Courts and Corrections Research

RTI experts in courts and corrections research bring together best-in-class evaluation, research, and technical assistance practices to help practitioners, policymakers, and public safety stakeholders address pressing issues facing the criminal and juvenile legal systems and improve corrections system outcomes for adults and youths. From complex multisite evaluations to single-site technical assistance projects, our team designs and executes high-quality, methodologically rigorous approaches to improve the functioning of legal and correctional systems and the effectiveness of courts and correctional policies, practices, and programs. We partner with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as philanthropic organizations, to improve the administration of justice through applied research and technical assistance.

Our Areas of Focus for Courts & Corrections Research Include:

• Pretrial 
• Prosecution and defense counsel
• Court systems and programs
• Jails and prisons
• Community corrections
• Reentry
• Justice-involved youth and families

Our staff are excited, passionate, and dedicated to grappling with real-world problems. Our projects integrate social science methods and theories with experiential knowledge of criminal legal systems. This integration enables the staff to experiment with novel approaches, test innovative solutions, and create meaningful tools. Through experimentation, testing, and development, staff provide policy-relevant information.